Terminal Scheduling Multiple Component Carriers via Single DCI
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G radio communication systems, the existing technologies face challenges in efficiently scheduling a large number of component carriers (CCs) due to the limited capacity of the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) used for transmitting downlink control information (DCI), particularly in cross-carrier scheduling scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A terminal (UE) is designed to efficiently schedule multiple component carriers using downlink control information (DCI) by applying the transmission configuration indication (TCI) indicated by the DCI to all or a group of CCs, allowing for TCI switching via a single DCI, thereby reducing the overhead of the control channel and avoiding PDCCH capacity constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If one DCI schedules only one CC, then scheduling precision is maintained, but the number of DCI required increases, leading to PDCCH capacity constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the scheduling function for multiple component carriers into a single DCI message. The DCI includes a carrier indicator field that identifies which CCs are being scheduled, allowing one DCI to allocate resources across multiple CCs simultaneously. This combining approach reduces the total number of DCI messages from N (for N CCs) to a single unified scheduling message, resolving the PDCCH capacity constraint while maintaining scheduling precision through the carrier indicator mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The DCI structure is enhanced with universal fields that enable it to schedule multiple CCs. The carrier indicator field and resource allocation fields are designed to be universally applicable across different CCs, allowing the same DCI format to function for scheduling any combination of component carriers. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate DCI messages for each CC while preserving precise scheduling control.
2Measurement precision
If configuration is executed separately for each CC, then scheduling precision is maintained, but device complexity and control overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the configuration management for multiple CCs into a unified control structure. Instead of maintaining separate configuration states for each CC, the system uses a single DCI message that contains carrier-specific indicators and resource allocation information for multiple CCs. This merging reduces the complexity of configuration management while preserving the ability to precisely control each individual CC through the carrier indicator field.
3Productivity
If a large number of CCs are configured to expand frequency band usage, then system capacity increases, but PDCCH capacity becomes tight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple CC scheduling functions into a single DCI message, allowing the system to configure and manage a large number of component carriers without proportionally increasing PDCCH capacity requirements. By combining resource allocation information for multiple CCs into one unified DCI structure with carrier indicators, the system can support expanded frequency band usage and higher system capacity while maintaining efficient use of PDCCH resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A UE receives downlink control information from a network and schedules a plurality of component carriers using the downlink control information. The UE applies information of transmission configuration indication indicated by the downlink control information to the plurality of component carriers.